The press briefing was aimed at enhancing public confidence as well as soliciting support from the general public to collaborate and partner with the security in the fight against crime.
Speaking at the briefing, Lamin Njie, the police spokesperson, appealed to the general public to support Operation Zero Crime to ensure a solid partnership with the security and also to quickly share information about any unusual activity happening within their community, which he thinks will help the police to take necessary actions even before the commission of crime.
“We want to assure the Gambian public that the security services will not relent in ensuring that crime is dealt with, curtailed and reduced to the barest minimum as far as law enforcement is concerned,” he said.
According to him, Operation Zero Crime constitutes all sister security services as their main activities are both vehicles and foot patrols and also vehicle checkpoints mounted at various strategic places to ensure that the emerging situation of crime perpetrated by taxi drivers is controlled.
He added that the Operation Zero Crime phase 2 is paying specific attention to taxi drivers involving in crime and crime related issues, which is why they are focusing mainly on spot checking at various checkpoints in the country which gears towards ensuring that all the emerging crimes are dealt with as they come on board.
PRO Njie further disclosed that from the 16 April to 23 May 2021, the total arrests made was 265 individuals of which 49 after screening were found not connected to any crime and were released immediately, 27 were arrested for drug matters and their cases have been taken to the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia (DLEAG).
He added that 88 individuals were arrested and sent to the GID as their cases have to do with immigration related matters for further actions to be taken by The Gambia Immigration Department (GID).
However, PRO Njie continued that others were arrested and charged with criminal offenses ranging from going armed in public, breaking and stealing, possession of suspected stolen properties as well as traffic matters of which 13 are already paraded before the courts.
“Receiving of stolen properties is a crime, so people must not in any way encourage buying stolen properties or keeping them in their possession because every stolen property taken from other people’s houses are sold to other people which encourages petty theft,” he noted.
